[WarOnPrivacy]

> opioids are massively under-prescribed for those that actually need them.

Absolutely.

While reports of ODs are endlessly bullhorned, millions in pain get demonized by algorithmic opioid blacklists, get ignored by news orgs/legislators addicted to opioid hysteria and get gaslighted by a public who only hears the bullhorning.

I have a lifelong friend with visibly crippling arthritis. He lost access to effective pain meds after the state passed a 3-day-max on opioids (passed >10 years after the pill-mill problem abated). Over the year that followed the law's passage, every Dr in his network (along with most Drs in the state) ~stopped Rx opioids. The (now fewer) pain mgt clinics are overloaded and not accepting patients.

His remaining avenues for pain relief no longer involve Dr's.

I had emergency abdominal surgery this year and had to convince the discharging Dr to prescribe Tramadol. Our new normal is for ERs/Hospitals to undermedicate patients in pain with OTC analgesics.

So yeah. Shout out to folks who are hand-waving away millions in pain - because pharma is greedy or because folks can't differentiate responsible Rx opioids from street fentanyl (that many in chronic pain turned to in desperation after they were cut off from safer pain relief).